Beowulf: Ruth Lehmann's Translations
Within the story of Beowulf, it is evident that there are many different translations. Each translation tells the same story but in a different way, a way in which someone may comprehend differently. However, one of the first translations was Lehmanns. Ruth Lehmann’s translation was known as the most related to the old the version or also known as the imitative translation.He had used a formatting where there were tons of breaks, more complex words, and less modern in general. However, compared to the other translations all of them vary and compare and contrast with Lehmanns. A good translation consists of having more emotion, modern formatting, modern text, and is able to create a picture for the reader, therefore, R.M Luizza’s, R.K Gordon's, and E Talbot Donaldsons are the most masterly. R.M Luizza’s, R.K Gordon's, and E Talbot
…show more content…
Donaldson’s are translations that are the most unlike Ruth Lehmann’s translation of the epic poem Beowulf, therefore, they are easily comparable. Ruth Lehmann’s translation can be described as messy and not modern which is hard for the reader to comprehend what is going. However, the other three are very modern formatting, modern text, and is able to create a picture of the reader. Formating was very comparable to all of the translations, Gorgon’s and Donaldson’s are formatted without lines, identical to a paragraph. However, Lehmann’s and Luizza’s translations have lines and are identically formatted to a poem. The one thing that was different from Lehmann’s than any of the others was his use of breaks and pauses.
The other three translations had no breaks or pauses and seemed less awkwardly put into the translation. On another note all of the translations including Lehmman’s had more of a modern text which is key for a modern reader to get at. Therefore, there are very few words that are the exact same as the old english version. Next, one of the most important difference from the three translations compared to Lehmann’s is the descriptions. For example when Lehmann describes the Herot he just says descriptions like “mighty hall,” and “stronghold loomed, gleaming golden.” However Gordon goes on the mention the complete different aspects of the hall, by stating, “The wine building, the golden-hall of warriors, gleaming with plates of gold” (Gorgon 1926). “Golden and gold” describes how the Herot is a very wealthy place and filled with strong warriors. This also gives us a sense of what the building looks like and who is inside the Herot within just one sentence. Donaldson also uses very detailed descriptions when describing how eager he was to kill the men. Just by saying, “his heart
laughed” (donaldson 1975), shows how his heart filled with joy and fulfillment knowing he was going to kill all of the men. Lastly, the translator’s use of literary devices are another key example of the differences amongst the other translators and Lehmann. In each of the three translations there are more hyperboles and kennings used. Luizza uses a kenning in his translations to describe Grendel and his character, by stating, “Bereft of joys” (line 721 Luizza). “Bereft” meaning lacking or without, therefore, Grendel was coming to the Herot without joy. Gorgon also uses the same kenning and Donaldson uses hyperboles. Lehmann, unfortunately does not include these literary terms. Compared to the other three Lehmanns translation is very confusing and lacks the other aspects the three translations carry. Each of the translators made their own executive decision on word choice, formatting, and emotional effect in order to retell the story about Beowulf to the reader. R.M Luizza’s, R.K Gordon's, and E Talbot Donaldson’s translations all have made similar decisions that differ from Lehmann’s translation. As mentioned, all of the translations have a different and or more modern formatting compared to Lehmann’s. The translators did this in order to benefit the reader by setting and laying it out in a format the reader is used to. This allows the reader to focus on the text and not how he or she should be reading the text. Which is what the reader may do when reading Lehmann’s because there are so many breaks in the lines. The way Lehmann included all the caesuras and breaks made it very confusing and hard to focus on what the text was actually saying. However, when the other three did simple paragraphs and one wrote one like a basic poem it was easier to grasp on what the text was actually saying. In addition, all the translators focused on keeping the translation with mostly modern english. This mainly is like the formatting, it is beneficial to the reader because it is easier to understand. As well as with the very few old english words allows a challenge for the reader but not too much of a challenge so the reader doesn’t understand the text at all. Lastly all of the translators besides Lehmann used detailed descriptions in their translations to help the reader create a picture in their mind. A visual allows the reader to grasp on and benefits their understanding to the story. They used different tools in order to create a picture, for example using literary terms like hyperboles and kennings. As well as using keywords like golden to describe the Herot. The translators all made the changes they made in order to help a current english learner and reader.
The Translation that sticks out amongst the others and has a clear purpose is R. K Gorgons. His is the most unlike Lehmann’s compared to all and most of the other translations, from its format and expressive details. However, like Lehmann’s translation he uses mostly modern english but has a few old english words for a good challenge. Gorgon had a complete different formatting than Lehmann, in fact he even had a paragraph. Current english readers are used to reading in paragraphs and through his paragraph it is very easy to follow. It added to how the simplicity of it made it better and easier to comprehend. He used no awkward breaks like Lehmann and was a lot more straightforward. However, what really made Gorgon stand out was his use descriptive details which allow the reader to furthermore understand the story. Within in his descriptions he also had literary devices, such as hyperbole. He uses a hyperbole to exaggerate the anger the monster had, by stating, “A baleful light like flame flared from his eyes” (gorgon 1926). “Flame flared from his eyes,’ was there to emphasize the shining of his eyes because he was so eager to kill the men. As well, this was to show the rage of anger Grendel had when he was walking through the palace. In addition, he uses kennings to describe how Grendel is, which can help the reader to grasp a better sense of characteristics of Grendel. By saying, “ bereft of joys,” (Gorgon 1926), he is stating the Grendel is monster that is without any joy. As well as mentioned before he uses powerful descriptions of the herot so the reader can create a spot on image in their mind. Consequently, Gorgon’s translation is the most beneficial translations for a current english reader.
All the translations compared to Lehmann’s, Gorgon’s was the most different and superior. One quality that the three superior translations all had was the use of modern english, this again is helpful to reader so they can further understand what is going on. However, the other three compared to Lehamann’s had a more modern format and better descriptions. But the one that showed that the most was Gorgon’s translation. In brief, gorgons translation has a more modern text, formatting, literary devices, and powerful descriptions in order to help the reader.
Donaldson’s are translations that are the most unlike Ruth Lehmann’s translation of the epic poem Beowulf, therefore, they are easily comparable. Ruth Lehmann’s translation can be described as messy and not modern which is hard for the reader to comprehend what is going. However, the other three are very modern formatting, modern text, and is able to create a picture of the reader. Formating was very comparable to all of the translations, Gorgon’s and Donaldson’s are formatted without lines, identical to a paragraph. However, Lehmann’s and Luizza’s translations have lines and are identically formatted to a poem. The one thing that was different from Lehmann’s than any of the others was his use of breaks and pauses.
The other three translations had no breaks or pauses and seemed less awkwardly put into the translation. On another note all of the translations including Lehmman’s had more of a modern text which is key for a modern reader to get at. Therefore, there are very few words that are the exact same as the old english version. Next, one of the most important difference from the three translations compared to Lehmann’s is the descriptions. For example when Lehmann describes the Herot he just says descriptions like “mighty hall,” and “stronghold loomed, gleaming golden.” However Gordon goes on the mention the complete different aspects of the hall, by stating, “The wine building, the golden-hall of warriors, gleaming with plates of gold” (Gorgon 1926). “Golden and gold” describes how the Herot is a very wealthy place and filled with strong warriors. This also gives us a sense of what the building looks like and who is inside the Herot within just one sentence. Donaldson also uses very detailed descriptions when describing how eager he was to kill the men. Just by saying, “his heart
laughed” (donaldson 1975), shows how his heart filled with joy and fulfillment knowing he was going to kill all of the men. Lastly, the translator’s use of literary devices are another key example of the differences amongst the other translators and Lehmann. In each of the three translations there are more hyperboles and kennings used. Luizza uses a kenning in his translations to describe Grendel and his character, by stating, “Bereft of joys” (line 721 Luizza). “Bereft” meaning lacking or without, therefore, Grendel was coming to the Herot without joy. Gorgon also uses the same kenning and Donaldson uses hyperboles. Lehmann, unfortunately does not include these literary terms. Compared to the other three Lehmanns translation is very confusing and lacks the other aspects the three translations carry. Each of the translators made their own executive decision on word choice, formatting, and emotional effect in order to retell the story about Beowulf to the reader. R.M Luizza’s, R.K Gordon's, and E Talbot Donaldson’s translations all have made similar decisions that differ from Lehmann’s translation. As mentioned, all of the translations have a different and or more modern formatting compared to Lehmann’s. The translators did this in order to benefit the reader by setting and laying it out in a format the reader is used to. This allows the reader to focus on the text and not how he or she should be reading the text. Which is what the reader may do when reading Lehmann’s because there are so many breaks in the lines. The way Lehmann included all the caesuras and breaks made it very confusing and hard to focus on what the text was actually saying. However, when the other three did simple paragraphs and one wrote one like a basic poem it was easier to grasp on what the text was actually saying. In addition, all the translators focused on keeping the translation with mostly modern english. This mainly is like the formatting, it is beneficial to the reader because it is easier to understand. As well as with the very few old english words allows a challenge for the reader but not too much of a challenge so the reader doesn’t understand the text at all. Lastly all of the translators besides Lehmann used detailed descriptions in their translations to help the reader create a picture in their mind. A visual allows the reader to grasp on and benefits their understanding to the story. They used different tools in order to create a picture, for example using literary terms like hyperboles and kennings. As well as using keywords like golden to describe the Herot. The translators all made the changes they made in order to help a current english learner and reader.
The Translation that sticks out amongst the others and has a clear purpose is R. K Gorgons. His is the most unlike Lehmann’s compared to all and most of the other translations, from its format and expressive details. However, like Lehmann’s translation he uses mostly modern english but has a few old english words for a good challenge. Gorgon had a complete different formatting than Lehmann, in fact he even had a paragraph. Current english readers are used to reading in paragraphs and through his paragraph it is very easy to follow. It added to how the simplicity of it made it better and easier to comprehend. He used no awkward breaks like Lehmann and was a lot more straightforward. However, what really made Gorgon stand out was his use descriptive details which allow the reader to furthermore understand the story. Within in his descriptions he also had literary devices, such as hyperbole. He uses a hyperbole to exaggerate the anger the monster had, by stating, “A baleful light like flame flared from his eyes” (gorgon 1926). “Flame flared from his eyes,’ was there to emphasize the shining of his eyes because he was so eager to kill the men. As well, this was to show the rage of anger Grendel had when he was walking through the palace. In addition, he uses kennings to describe how Grendel is, which can help the reader to grasp a better sense of characteristics of Grendel. By saying, “ bereft of joys,” (Gorgon 1926), he is stating the Grendel is monster that is without any joy. As well as mentioned before he uses powerful descriptions of the herot so the reader can create a spot on image in their mind. Consequently, Gorgon’s translation is the most beneficial translations for a current english reader.
All the translations compared to Lehmann’s, Gorgon’s was the most different and superior. One quality that the three superior translations all had was the use of modern english, this again is helpful to reader so they can further understand what is going on. However, the other three compared to Lehamann’s had a more modern format and better descriptions. But the one that showed that the most was Gorgon’s translation. In brief, gorgons translation has a more modern text, formatting, literary devices, and powerful descriptions in order to help the reader.